Pineapple Pleco

General information

Orange Cheek Pleco comes in a variable in coloration from completely dark brown to black, mottled with tan, to dark brown coloration with black streaks, or light tan with large spots located at the base of lateral plates, fin membranes, and abdomen. They have a large, bulky body that appears like an armor plating along the body of the pleco. They do not have an adipose fin and they do not have the omega iris. 

Orange Cheek Pleco are omnivores scavengers and are not a picky eater. They actively feed off the bottom of the aquarium, they get most of their nutrition from leftover food, decaying plants, and algae. If there is no algae or leftover food present, supplement with high-quality flake food, sinking carnivore pellets, freeze-dried bloodworms, and tubifex.

Males have longer odontodes on the cheek that are denser and more numerous than in females.

It has been suggested breeding males may also have orange on the cheeks and dorsal and caudal fin spines, although this may be restricted to fish from the Branco River.